This is the archival website for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). It is not kept up to date. Please visit the SFMTA website for current information. San Francisco Celebrates Bike to Work Day: 73 percent of trips on Market Street were by bicycle this morning |
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Release date: May 10, 2012 *** Press Release ***Mayor Edwin M. Lee and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all surface transportation in the city, including the Municipal Railway (Muni), today joined the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, other city partners and business leaders to celebrate the city’s 18th annual Bike to Work Day. The SFMTA announced today that 73 percent of the trips traveling eastbound on Market Street during this morning’s commute were bike trips, based on a count taken between 8 and 9 a.m. at the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Market Street. The number of people riding on Bike to Work Day has increased by 66 percent during the past five years (2007-2012). “Bicycling is good for business because active employees are happier, healthier, and often more productive,” said Mayor Lee. “Thank you to everyone who participated and for all those that bike to work every day and the businesses and establishments that support them. We salute you for fostering alternative transportation modes for San Francisco.” "I am so pleased biking to work is becoming more and more common in San Francisco," said Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, who often bikes along Polk Street to City Hall. "We have to do everything we can to make every day Bike to Work Day." “The city’s annual Bike to Work Day highlights our commitment to fostering sustainable transportation options in San Francisco,” said Tom Nolan, Chairman of the SFMTA Board of Directors. “As the SFMTA spreads the bicycling infrastructure to all corners of the city, more and more San Franciscans are encouraged to use this healthy and environmentally friendly option.” Today’s Bike to Work Day count, taken at Van Ness Avenue and Market Street, showed a total of 1,031 bicycles, compared to 362 automobiles. This is an increase of 54 percent over a similar count by the SFMTA just one month ago. Bicycles made up 73 percent of the total vehicles headed eastbound today, while automobiles came in at 25 percent (transit and taxis accounted for the remaining two percent). “With our 2011 bike count reporting a 71 percent increase over the past five years (2006-2011), it is clear that many residents and businesses have embraced bicycling,” said Edward D. Reiskin, SFMTA Director of Transportation. “Guided by the city’s Bike Plan, which supports and encourages this growth, the SFMTA continues to add mile after mile of bike lane, implement innovative projects, and work closely with businesses and neighborhoods to help them bring bicycle facilities to their doorsteps and ensure bicycling is safe for everyone.” A key element supporting the increase in bicycling citywide is the improvements to the San Francisco bike network. The SFMTA continues to build on a strong foundation of planning to implement the following bicycling infrastructure improvements:
“Today we welcomed many more people to experience the joys of bicycling in San Francisco,” said Leah Shahum, Executive Director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, a 12,000-member nonprofit group promoting bicycling for everyday transportation and organizer of San Francisco’s Bike to Work Day. “This surge of people choosing to bike for more of their trips - thanks to more dedicated bike space on the streets and better bike parking - is visible not only on Bike to Work Day but every day throughout our city.” Countdown to the Shutdown Bicycling to work will be a great option during the Long Muni Rail Shutdown, May 25 to June 4, which will impact the N Judah, the J Church, the 22 Fillmore and several other bus routes. Bike detours will also be in place for the Wiggle, the Steiner/Sanchez route and the connector route between the Wiggle and Market Street. More information is available at www.sfmta.com/longshutdown. |
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